SNOWPOWER: Innovative in-situ snow parameter sensing system allowing accurate remotely sensed data calibration for improved forecasting of hydro power resources

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0376

Key words (English)

Snow hydrology; time domain reflectometry; snow sensor; numerical modelling;
Environmental Protection; Energy Saving; Renewable Sources of Energy

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: NNE5/2000/251

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4b.1 Cleaner energy systems, including renewables

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Eidg. Institut für Schnee- und Lawinenforschung SLF

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (D), KTH Stockholm (S), HydroQuebec (CA), Inst. Nat. de la Recherche Scientifique INRS-EAU (CA), Sommer GMBH & Co (A)

Abstract (English)

The global goal is improving the energy production from renewable resources. Hydro power facilities fulfil this demand attractively and at the same time help to meet the Kyoto objectives of CO_2 reduction. Efficient energy management of hydro power resources requires accurate forecasting of water capacity from snow melting and run- off. The filling prognoses from snow for hydro power reservoirs is today too inaccurate on the order of 30 to 50 %, as present instruments measure only about half of the snow fall. Because of this the calibration of remotely sensed data e.g. from satellite or aircraft is inaccurate. The prognosis calculations involve snow models which describe the metamorphose, compacting, melting, refreezing, percolation and water saturation, which determine the melting and run-off times. The objective of this project is to improve the precision to at least 10% by a new measurement method where a large area up to 2000 m² will be monitored in-situ.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0376